Feeling Champion

- William Abbs

Dulwich Hamlet have become known for drawing attendances that would not look out of place three divisions higher. Even so, pulling in a crowd of 1,200 for a midweek isthmian League match is quite a feat. the queue snaking from the turnstiles at Champion Hill through the car park of the adjoining Sainsbury’s before the league leaders’ game against Harrow borough, however, was a direct response by supporters to the club’s call for help in keeping Dulwich in business.

The position Dulwich find themselves in is complex but in essence familiar. they do not own their ground and the company that does, property developers meadow residential, effectively controls the running of the club through an arrangement with the owner, DHFC Ltd’s majority shareholder Nick McCormack. in late October, meadow notified the club’s football committee that due to the local council’s continued resistance to their plans to turn the ground into flats they would be withdrawing their support for player wages and other outgoings. this left the club and their supporters needing to pick up the bill.